Folding drawing table having adjustable top and vertical legs



B. E. BAILEY FOLDING DRAWING TABLE HAVING ADJUSTABLE July 20, 1954 TOP AND VERTICAL LEGS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 9, 1951 B. E. BAILEY FOLDING DRAWING TABLE HAVING ADJUSTABLE July 20, 1954 TOP AND VERTICAL LEGS Filed OCT.. 9 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NLG-u Patented July 20, 1954 FFICE FOLDING DRAWING TABLE HAVING ADJUSTABLE TOP AND VERTICAL LEGS Bradford E. Bailey, Elizabeth, N. J.

Application October 9, 1951, Serial No. 250,405

1 Claim.

Atable which has legs that may be maintained Vertical while at the same time the top may be adjusted to various angles.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be fully understood from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as illustrative of the invention but not in limitation thereof.

Figure 1 is a rear View of the table with the legs in unfolded position and with the top tilted.

Figure 2 is a side View of the table with the legs unfolded and with the top tilted.

Figure 3 is a side view of the table with the legs in folded position.

Referring now to Figure 1, reference character IU shows the rectangular shaped plane top.

Underneath the top I is a wooden frame to which the top is attached by means of small nishing nails driven down through the top into the frame. The top may also be attached to the frame by using glue. This frame consists of edge members I2, I4, I6 and I8, and middle support members 28, 22 and 24.

Underneath the back edge of the wooden frame and attached thereto in hinged relation are tubular elements 26 and 28. Element 26 has the end portions bent at 90 angles to the midportion forming a shape like an inverted letter U. The end portions of element 26 comprise part of rear legs 30 and 32. Element 28 is bent in a similar fashion as element 26. The ends of element 28 comprise front legs 34 and 36.

The front legs 34 and 36 are made wider apart than rear legs 26 and 28 in order that the front legs and rear legs may pass each other in the folded position.

Leg extension elements 38 and. 4I) comprise tubes which t loosely inside of legs 3|] and 32. These elements are xed at a certain extension by means of thumb screws 4I and 42 threaded through the wall of legs 30 and 32. In Figure 1 element 38 is extended until the end 43 of leg 30 coincides with circumferential mark 44-b around (Cl. SIL-94) element 38 and when at this extension adjustment, the top I6 has tilt B. Likewise element 46 is extended until the end 45 of leg 32 coincides with circumferential mark 46-b which also corresponds to tilt B of the top Il). A multiple number of additional marks are provided such as 44 and 44a on element 38 and marks 46 and 46-a on element 46. Marks 44 and 46 correspond to the top I6 being in a horizontal position and marks 44a and 46a correspond to the top being at tilt A. Rubber thimble-like feet 4l', 48, 50 and 52 are slipped over the extension elements 38 and 46 and legs 34 and 36.

Straps 54, 55 and 56 hold tubular element 26 to the wooden frame members I8, 26, 22 and 24 in hinge relation as previously mentioned and straps 58, 59 and 66 hold tubular element 28 to wooden frame members I4, 26, 22 and 24 in hinge relation. Screws 62, 64, 66 and 68 are threaded into elements 26 and 2B in order to prevent elements 26 and 28 from slipping longitudinally to the right or left through the straps. Circumferential clamps may be used in place of these screws.

Brace 'I0 is a rod with a 90 angle bend in each end and with thebent ends pointing in opposite directions as a letter Z. Onel end 'I2 of brace 'I0 is almost as long (approximately 11/2") as member I6 is wide (approximately 11/2) and extends through a hole 'I4 passing through frame member i6. The other end I6 is inserted into a holelike connection 'IS-b through one Wall of leg 36. A multiple number of hole-like connections such as 78, 'IS-a, and 'IS-b are provided in leg 30 so that the top I8 can be made horizontal or given Various degrees of tilt. When brace end I6 is in hole 'I8 the top I6 is horizontal; when in hole lil-a the top I6 is at tilt A; and when in hole 'IS-b, the top is at tilt B, etc.

Brace is a rod with a 90 angle bend in each end and with the ends pointing in the same direction as for a letter U. One end 82 is almost as long as frame member I5 is wide and extends through a hole 84 passing through member I'5. The other end 86 is inserted into a hole-like connection =88b passing through one wall of leg 34. A multiple number of hole-like connections such as 88, E18-a, and 88-b are provided in leg 36 so that the top I0 can be made horizontal or given various degrees of tilt. When brace end 86 is in hole 88 the top Ill is horizontal; when in hole 88-a the top I0 has tilt A; and when in hole 88-b, the top has tilt B, etc.

Brace 96 is installed in a fashion similar tol brace 'I6 and has end 92 in hole 94 and end 96 in hole 884) with a multiple number of additional holes such as 88, SiS-ay and 98-b provided.

Brace |00 is installed in a fashion similar to brace 80 and has end |02 in hole |04 and end |06 in hole Hi8-b with multiple additional holes |08, |08a and HI8-b` provided.

It is pointed outin regard to the position of the holes employed for Nthe horizontal top position that holes 78 and 98 in the rear legs 30 and 32 are the highest holes in these two legs; whereas holes 88 and |08 in the rear legs 34 and 36 are the lowest holes in these latter two legs.

These tilts A and B discussed in. connection with the braces are the same tilts A and B mentioned in regard to the adjustment of leg eXtension elements 38 and 40. It is evident that' the positions of the leg extension-elements must have corresponding positions for the braces vin order for the legs to be maintained vertical.

Brace holes 78, 78a, and 18h in rear leg 30 are spaced further apart than-'holes 88,8811, and 88h in front leg34. vLikewise holes 96, 08a and 06h in rear leg 32 are spaced further apart than holes |08,r |0811, and |081) Iin front leg 3S. This specic hole spacing is clearly evident in `Figure l and is absolutely necessary in order to permit maintaining both front and rear legs in a vertical position when the-top is tilted.

' Tension is maintained on the braces of a nature iwhich tends to keep the lower ends of the braces in the holes of the, leg elements. In thisy regard Z-shaped brace '10 is intension which tends to vrotate frame member. I6 in al clockwise direction, while U-shaped brace 80 is-in tensionwhich tends to rotate member .I6Y in a counter-clockwise direction. The clockwise and'counterlockwise forces Ain member |8 cancel eachother-with the impor- .tant result that member I6 is'notactually rotated or distorted. Likewise braces 90 and |00 are arranged so that the opposing rotational forces on element I2 cancel out.

Figure 2 is a side View ofthe table. The solid lines show the top `|0 adjusted to be'at tilt B the same tilt as shown Vin Figure 1. In this position thej four legs are all in a vertical position. The dashed .lines of Figurez show the top` |0 adjusted to be in a horizontal position.

Figure 3 is a side View ofl the table inv folded position. Front legs 34 and`36 fold .fiat `against the frame asillustrated by leg Stand frame element lli.` The ends of thefeet50 and 52 preferably extend a short distance beyond the edge of the top |0 in order that the table can rest on these feet instead of on edge of frame element |8. This prevents the table from sliding out and away from the wall and also protects thumb tacks placed in the edge of wooden frame element |8. Leg extension elements 38 and 40 do not need to be retracted if it is likely that the same top tilt adjustment will be employed when the table is put to use again. Tubular element 28 serves as a comfortable and convenient handle when carrying'the table. Hook |18 is provided in the 4frame element `l2 with a strap or rubber band ||6 for holding. the legs in folded position.

I claim:

A folding table having an adjustable top and vertical legs comprising, a top, two rear legs attachedA in hinged relation to said top, said rear legs having adjustable extension elements at the bottom ends thereof and a multiple number of holes spaced longitudinally in the sides thereof, two front legs attached in hinged relation to said top, said front legs having a multiple number of holes spaced longitudinally in the sides thereof, four braces'consisting of rod-'like members with a substantially right-angle bend in each end thereof, one end of each said brace attached to the said table top in pivoting relation and the other end of each brace inserted in one ofthe saidholes in said legs, thefsaid holes in said rear legs being spaced wider apart than the said holes in said front legs in such manner that the legs will'be maintained in avertical position when the saidtable top is tilted and the said rear leg extension elements are extended.

References'ited in the ille` of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '127,149 Clift May 28, 1672 181,848 James Aug. 22, 1875 460,032 Richmond Sept. 22, 1891A 571,980 v-Penield Nov..24, 1896 V766,988 Burrowes Aug. 9, 1904 1,102,682 Ping July 7, 1914i 1,232,874 Whealen July 10, 19l7 1,380,007 Osterberg May 31,1921 1,520,589 Matkovic Dec. 23, 1924 1,888,117 Fox Nov.' l5, 1932 `1,924,945 Klotz Aug. 29, 1933 V2,563,671 Basinger Aug. 7, 1951 

